Star Wars: Trench RunReview

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Where's the rest of the game?

By Levi Buchanan

From Rebel Assault to Rogue Squadron, gamers are well acquainted with shooting down the Death Star's main trench. Avoiding cannon fire and dodging deadly architecture, Luke Skywalker must deliver his powerful payload to the battle station's sole weak spot: an exhaust port. It's a thrilling climax to a still-thrilling movie. And now THQ is mining it for a brand-new iPhone game that is a lot of fun but will leave fans wondering where the rest of the game is hiding.

Trench Run is short. There are just two modes of play: mission and arcade. Mission mode has only five stages and once they have been played here, they are unlocked in arcade mode. All told, a decent player could burn through Trench Run in about 40 minutes. It's a great ride while it lasts, to be sure. The tilt controls are good. The X-Wing and TIE Fighter models are accurate. The sound effects and music are pulled straight from the movie. It really is a great pocket Star Wars experience. But when it's over, you cannot help but be disappointed.

Where are the other dogfights? Or the alternate Rogue Squadron missions like those that made up the majority of the excellent Nintendo 64 and GameCube titles? Trench Run ends up feeling like the first act of a much longer game. Sometimes being left wanting is a bad thing -- especially after shelling out $4.99 when games that cost half of that provide ten times the game. Sure, there are multiple difficulties and the arcade mode to just jump into the trench or a quick dogfight, but you're still playing on the same turf.

How many times have you played this sequence?

Trench Run's tilt controls are very good – you just have to make sure you are holding the iPhone at a 45-degree angle when you start, though. I hope THQ adds a recalibration option in an update, because otherwise Trench Run fails the so-called "bed test." Tapping the left side of the screen enables "force vision," which slows the game down and lets you easily target TIEs or slip through some of the narrow spots in the trench. To shoot, just tap the left side of the screen. There are multiple camera views, but I preferred the exterior view, particularly when going through the actual trench. Cockpit view isn't that bad when dogfighting the TIEs over the Death Star, though.

As mentioned, the production values are quite good. The movie assets, from the laser blast sound effects to the use of movie footage, all add to the experience. Trench Run also offers online leaderboards for posting the best efforts against the Empire.

Star Wars: Trench Run offers 30 minutes of great X-Wing flying and Death Star destruction. But then it&#Array;s over. THQ thinks the replay comes from extra difficulty levels or through playing areas again in arcade mode, but that&#Array;s just not enough, especially when compared to other iPhone games with $4.99 price tags. Just because iPhone gamers play in short bursts doesn't mean you get to deliver one short burst.